The Patriots’ defense is driving them closer to contender status

FOXBORO – Overlook for a minute the punching bag the Browns have been and appear fated to be as long as they name themselves a soccer crew.

This isn’t concerning the Browns.

This isn’t even about Sunday.

It’s concerning the punctuation Sunday grew to become for the primary half of a season the place the Patriots protection is now not a punching bag.

Not even shut.

Sure, the identical protection Geno Smith carved up for 362 passing yards within the opener. And the one which forgot how to tackle in Miami. And the identical protection that, for no matter motive, insists on recognizing opponents a landing or subject purpose on each opening sequence.

Possibly they’re bored.

Bored or not, these Patriots are nearing top-10 standing, a territory that, if reached at season’s finish, would make this crew an authorized contender.

So whereas Drake Maye builds an MVP case and powers a legit top-10 offense, it’s the opposite facet of the ball which will push the Pats from particular to spectacular.

“No matter whether or not they prefer to run the ball (or) cross the ball, if we’re on our s—,” mentioned Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis, “we’ve received an opportunity to beat any crew.”

Right here’s the case.

The Pats are the primary crew since 1950 to play the primary eight weeks of a season with out permitting a working again to realize 50 yards in a recreation. Their run protection charges third by Anticipated Factors Added (EPA), and is likely to be first in yards per carry allowed as soon as Week 8 concludes Monday evening. Each Sunday, the Pats abide faithfully by Mike Vrabel’s “edge, wall, swarm,” philosophy of controlling the perimeter, damming the center and gang-tackling till the ball service hits the bottom.

Simply ask Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins, one of the vital gifted runners in soccer, who went house with 19 dashing yards Sunday.

OK, so groups throw the ball.

Effectively, the Patriots’ greatest participant, Christian Gonzalez, simply returned to peak type after three weeks away and 4 weeks of discovering himself. Gonzalez held Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy to zero catches, and artfully guided Jeudy into the sideline on a fourth-down throw late within the recreation that fell incomplete. The 2 exchanged phrases afterward, Jeudy making an attempt to save lots of face on a day Gonzalez had taken his soul.

“I like it,” Gonzalez mentioned of getting focused. “I imply, I speak about being a nook, that’s what you need. You need groups to throw the ball your approach. So I invited it.”

Three days earlier, Gonzalez’s place coach shared the star nook was nonetheless returning to recreation type. That field can now formally be checked. You understand what comes subsequent for the 23-year-old who made the All-Professional second crew in his second 12 months?

Most likely dominance.

“It’s all the time a bit of robust lacking time, and (your) legs are heavy,” Gonzalez mentioned. “However like I mentioned, I’m good.”

The largest dent within the Patriots’ armor right here might, the truth is, be a as soon as projected power: their cross rush. Pats defensive sort out Milton Williams was laborious on himself and his place group after Sunday’s win, feeling as in the event that they hadn’t harassed Browns quarterback Dilllon Gabriel fairly sufficient. There’s one thing to that.

Gabriel took 37 dropbacks, however was sacked simply as soon as and hit just one different time. Even in a recreation the place Cleveland schemed to get the ball out of his fingers rapidly, the Patriots let Gabriel linger within the pocket for 4 or 5 seconds on a couple of performs, and he didn’t go down. However as a result of Gabriel’s arm expertise and scrambling potential scare nobody, the Pats didn’t pay — even when it felt like they need to have.

“We had been strong immediately. However I believe I’m only a perfectionist or one thing. Or one thing is likely to be improper with me,” Williams mentioned. “I simply really feel like we may have performed extra.”